Smart Partners Of Manitoba
Fourth Annual Smart Awards
Chair of the Board of Directors, Smart Partners
Welcome all our friends and those we honoured on January 26, 2005. Each of our award winners has contributed significantly to making their communities ‘Smart communities’. This celebration is held each year by Smart Partners of Manitoba in order to recognize outstanding individuals, companies and institutions like these.
His Honour, John Harvard, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba brings greetings and offers his congratulations to the award winners.
Dr. Stefan Wagener, Director for Biosafety & Environment and CAO of the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health provided guests with his very entertaining and informational keynote address.
The 2004 Smart Award Winners |
Smart Award for Technology - MicroPilot
Accepting the award from Dominic Slack of Seerx Technologies is Lisa Shaw, Director of Communications for MicroPilot.
MicroPilot is a world leader in manufacturing miniature autopilots for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and micro aerial vehicles (MAV). Weighing 28 grams, the MP2028 is the world’s smallest full functional autopilot. With a global roster of 200 clients in 44 countries (that includes 6 of 15 branches of NASA) MicroPilot continues to grow by constantly improving its autopilot and introducing new autopilot accessories for the UAV market. The 40-acre MicroPilot Flight Facility is located near Stony Mountain and is ideally suited for training and testing. In four years, MicroPilot has grown from one to twenty- three employees.
Smart Award for Community - Jim Bakken
Jim Bakken accepts his award from Laurie Butler of the Association of Manitoba Incubators.
Jim Bakken is an Assistant Deputy Minister with Manitoba Energy, Science and Technology and is currently providing the executive leadership to a community technology initiative, Community Connections. Community Connections supports community organizations in providing public Internet access, community web sites and networks. Jim has spent 30 years in leadership positions in education, youth corrections, child welfare and family and community support services. He has had the opportunity to serve as an Assistant Deputy Minister in Advanced Education and Training, as an Assistant Deputy Minister of Child and Family Services, the Provincial Director of Child Welfare, the Provincial Director of Young Offenders, the Superintendent of the Manitoba Youth Centre and coordinator and teacher positions in correctional and special education.
Smart Award for Corporate Education - Standard Aero Group
Accepting the award for Corporate Education is Bruce Clarke, Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Presenting is Michael Boyd of the University of Winnipeg.
Standard Aero University is a part of the corporate training and development organization for Standard Aero and Standard Aero Energy. Standard Aero is a leading supplier of services to the global aerospace, defence and energy industries. Standard Aero University is the outcome of a strategic planning process, which recognized the need to increase the capacity of leadership development in the organization to meet its business growth. To ensure consistency in corporate culture, mission, and vision, all leaders in the organization participate in Standard Aero University’s Leadership Development Program.
Smart Award for Innovation - Manitoba Hydro INROCS Project
Accepting the Smart Award for Innovation on behalf of Manitoba Hydro's INROCS project are team members Al Pinder, Kevin Zink, Dan Zelich and Tim Epp.
Manitoba Hydro's Interlake and Nelson River Optical Cable System project, also known as "INROCS", began in the fall of 2001 with the goal of installing a 1200 km high-speed fibre optic cable link between Manitoba Hydro's power facilities in Winnipeg and Gillam. The fibre optic link was to provide protection and control signalling for Manitoba Hydro's power transmission systems as well as handling administrative voice and data traffic.
In addition to meeting the utilities needs a portion of the system's 2.5 Gbps data capacity has been designated for commercial data services in remote communities that are within reach of the cable route. Having this fibre optic cable system available for commercial use will enable high-speed data services to become available in northern communities to facilitate local health, education and economic development opportunities.
The four individuals who are the architects of the INROCS System are being recognized today because of the key role they played in bringing this system to reality. The vision and forethought that they put into building this system will serve Manitoba Hydro, and the northern communities along the route, well into the future.
Smart Award for Public Education - Dr. Louis P. Visentin
Presenter Dr. Jose Reuda (on right) offers congratulations to Louis Visentin, President of Brandon University.
Louis Visentin began his term as Brandon University President on August 1, 2000. Prior to coming to Brandon University, he was a Professor of Biology, and Vice-President Academic at the University of New Brunswick from 1995. Known as an experienced and accomplished academic, administrator and teacher, Louis was active in enlisting support and funding partnerships for various new and innovative programs at UNB.
Around Brandon, Visentin is known as a renaissance man. He has enriched the Westman community through the establishment of various partnerships between the University and the local school division, health authority and City. Dr. Visentin continues to add to campus life by promoting technology enhancements such as the connection to CANET*4, increased scholarship and bursary support for students and research infrastructure for faculty. Every chance he can get, Dr. Visentin strongly advocates the importance of numeracy and literacy, the benefits of post-secondary education, and the “jewel” of the prairies known as Brandon University.
Smart Award for Business - Emerging Information Systems Inc.
Presenting the Smart Award for Business to Ken Denman, Vice President Professional Services, is Susan Zuk of Canadian Information Processing Society, Winnipeg.
Emerging Information Systems Inc. (EISI), the developer of NaviPlan financial planning software, creates value and achieves growth through a clear market focus, a successful business strategy, and superior intellectual property. Based in Winnipeg, EISI is the largest financial planning software developer in the world. EISI's highly experienced workforce of 240 professionals represents multiple disciplines, including financial and technology experts. EISI’s depth of experience and expertise is a competitive advantage because it enables the company to develop innovative solutions and quickly respond to new government legislation and client/market opportunities.
NaviPlan is the market leader in financial planning software, and is highly regarded by industry experts. Through corporate alliances, and analyst and media relations programs, EISI has fostered positive and mutually-rewarding relationships with key centres of influence.
Smart Award for Research - Cyrus Shafai
Presenting the award to Cyrus Shafai (left) is Dale Oswald, Managing Director, Strategic Trade Partners.
Most of Dr. Cyrus Shafai’s early years were spent growing up in Winnipeg. His interest in science and how things work led him to a career in Electrical Engineering, and to Bachelor of Science and Master of Science studies at the University of Manitoba. He specialized in Scanning Probe Microscopy, which let him see atoms for the first time. Studying at the U of M was an easy decision since it was, and still is, the Canadian leader in this technology.
In 1998 Cyrus’s goal was to bring nanofabrication technology to Manitoba, a technology whose industrial value is estimated to reach $1 trillion in 10 years. Soon after he arrived, the Alberta Microelectronic Centre moved to a new building with a bigger lab. Cyrus made a deal to pack-up their old clean-room and bring it to Winnipeg. As the saying goes, “He liked it so much he bought the company”. However, in this case, Cyrus convinced them to give it to him for free.
Dr. Shafai, his students, his wife, and the U of M technicians have spent 3 years re-building the lab. Together with several other professors, he has raised funds for equipment. Dr. Shafai currently serves as the director of the University of Manitoba’s Nano-Systems Fabrication Laboratory.
Smart Award for Health - Dr. Paul Kitching
Presenting the Smart Award for Health to Dr. Paul Kitching (on left) is Gary Craven of Canadian Information Processing Society, Manitoba.
Dr. Paul Kitching is the Director of the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, one of the laboratories within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He qualified as a veterinarian in London, England and specialized in the epidemiology and control of the major animal diseases that affect production and international trade, in particular the vesicular diseases and the pox diseases of animals. He was head of the World Reference Laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease prior to taking up his post in Canada in 2001. The NCFAD shares accommodation with the National Microbiology Laboratory, now part of the Public Health Agency, and contains containment level 3 and 4 facilities in which to work with foreign animal diseases as well as emerging zoonotic diseases (diseases transferable to humans). Much of the recent work has involved BSE - the NCFAD is the reference centre for Canada - and avian influenza, following the recent outbreak in British Columbia. However, there is also the responsibility to establish diagnostic capacity for any major outbreak of disease that could have significant economic impact on Canadian agriculture, such as foot-and-mouth disease and hog cholera. Increasingly there is the realization that many pathogens are shared by humans and animals, and it has been an objective of Dr Kitching to link the research and diagnostic programs of the NCFAD with those of the Public Health Agency laboratory.
Smart Award for Entrepreneur - Modern Earth
Presenting the Smart Award for Entrepreneur to Dan Belhassen and Carole Marshall of Modern Earth is Alfonz Koncan of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Modern Earth Inc. develops software products that help their clients manage their own websites, communicate to their customers and promote their businesses on-line. Business partners Dan Belhassen and Carole Marshall have combined their skills to build a 7-member team, serving clients across North America. Modern Earth’s products include greatBIGnews.com, a direct email marketing tool. The product has received significant international attention, including exclusive endorsement by the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, American Society of Travel Agents and the Learning and Education Resource Network.
The company’s PointAndEdit website updating system combines professional design services with the ability for customers to make changes, add images, and create links on their websites, themselves. It’s turning a lot of frustrated computer users into successful webmasters.
Also in their product line-up is LOCALcourses.com, a directory used by continuing education course providers in southern Manitoba to promote their sessions and accept secure registrations. And just launched in the last few weeks is TouchlessTickets.com, a website that allows anyone to securely sell tickets to any event online.
Smart Award for Recreation & Culture - True North Sports & Entertainment
Presenting the Smart Award for Recreation and Culture to Kevin Donnelly, Senior Vice President of Event and Building Operations, is Ed Suzuki of Destination Winnipeg.
True North Sports & Entertainment Limited is the owner of the Manitoba Moose and is the owner, developer and operator of Winnipeg’s downtown multi-purpose sports and entertainment centre.
True North Sports & Entertainment Limited is a private-sector group that has come together with government support to create The MTS Centre, the bright, new 15,000 seat, entertainment, sports and performing-arts facility that occupies a site in the heart of Downtown Winnipeg that has for decades been considered the premiere piece of real estate in the city.
Winnipeg's downtown is changing for the better, and this significant new project provides the power to accelerate this positive change and bring hundreds of thousands more people downtown on a regular basis.
The MTS Centre will be a destination for Winnipeggers and visitors alike supplying a year-round attraction for tourism. It will enhance Winnipeg's quality of life, community recreational options and provide a vital asset for encouraging business to expand or re-locate here
Smart Partners of Manitoba sincerely “Thanks” the sponsors of our annual event:
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We wish to thank Lincoln Park Gallery for the design services and printing of the Awards Program.
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We also wish to thank Ernie Labovich and Bob Milne, A Taste of New Orleans, for the music entertainment, and for the many who asked “yes” they do have a CD release. |
Stained glass artwork provided by 
